New England Patriots 2021 Discussion Thread

erikthredd

Didn’t see one for this upcoming season so thought I’d start it off. NE just sent a 5th round pick to the Raiders for Left Tackle Trent Brown plus a 7th rounder. Bringing Brown back on a 1yr 11M deal likely means the end of LG Joe Thuney’s time in NE.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31031503/sources-las-vegas-raiders-trent-brown-returning-new-england-patriots

craig44

great move. Brown is a great tackle. and is the size of a house.

thisistheshow

What about trading Wynn and keeping Thuney.

https://www.patspulpit.com/2021/3/9/22321179/patriots-opinion-trent-brown-joe-thuney-isaiah-wynn

erikthredd

I’d hope that they could find a way to keep all three then release or trade Marcus Cannon if someone has to go. Extending Thuney would be tough cause he’s likely looking at a 4yr/60M deal maybe more as a FA,if they could move on from Cannon and use whatever salary cap space that gets freed up towards Thuney it may help keep him here.After Cannon skipped the Covid season in 2020 whose to say he won’t do it again. Don’t give him the chance imo,find a taker and take back whatever you can get for him.

Or they can re-sign Thuney,convince Cannon to play and move Wynn to RG and have one of their strongest OL’s in years. Then draft your QB,WRs & TE and spend the rest of their cap space & picks on defense.

thisistheshow

Whatever happens, a solid O-Line with a couple good backups who are position flexible is worth it's weight in gold. (And that would be a lot... )

perkdog

Glad they got Brown back, he is just a massive human being. What about bringing Malcolm Butler back after the Titans released him?

craig44

I think that Butler wears the scarlet letter as far as BB is concerned. whatever happened SB weekend must have cut pretty deep

erikthredd

I’d love to see Butler come back here especially if Gilmore gets dealt at some point but I agree with Craig. I think that the next time we see Butler at Foxboro not wearing an opponents jersey is when the Kraft family welcome him into the team HOF.

bronco2078

brown is a slug , they didn't want him

erikthredd

RT Marcus Cannon traded to the Texans in a swap of mid to late round picks freeing up 6.3M in cap space for the Pats. There’s also a good chance that Cannon sits out another season due to Covid,hopefully he passes the physical first.

thisistheshow

Over the last week or so it had become apparent that we might see Cam back. And so for my own football sanity I did some reading and listening, trying to find reasons for hope.

He is working on the throwing. He obviously struggled post shoulder injury to find a good motion. Progress here would go a long way.

His pre-snap issues have been a focus. As far as I know, McDaniels didn't consider simplifying the playbook. Cam came in and it was learn as you go. This year will not be like that. He is now up to speed.

He has a GIANT chip on his shoulder.

perkdog

Regardless of Cam having a chip on his shoulder, he is not that good anymore and part of the Pats signing him I believe is Bill wanting to prove everyone wrong. this team is in shambles so 6-10 here we come.

craig44

Cam is a mess. He could not consistently throw a 10 yard out. they were consistently delivered to the receivers feet.

so frustrating when you have been used to 19 years with an accurate QB

perkdog

@craig44 said:
Cam is a mess. He could not consistently throw a 10 yard out. they were consistently delivered to the receivers feet.

so frustrating when you have been used to 19 years with an accurate QB

Exactly, not to mention the glaring lack of a receiving corps will make it the same sorry story as last season

bronco2078

@craig44 said:
Cam is a mess. He could not consistently throw a 10 yard out. they were consistently delivered to the receivers feet.

so frustrating when you have been used to 19 years with an accurate QB

draft receivers with prehensile toes

2dueces

As posted in another thread as a Bills fan I’m elated to see Cam with the Patriots next year!
I’m also hoping Miami sticks with Tua and the Jets remain a mess for another year.

thisistheshow

I've spent months dreading having Can back. Like I said, I'm going to stay positive

erikthredd

Looks like BB has been pretty busy adding players today:
Ravens LB Matthew Judon signed a 4yr/56m deal/32m guaranteed deal
Eagles DB Jalen Mills signed a 4yr/24m/9m guaranteed deal
Dolphins NT Davon Godchaux signed a 2yr/16m/9m guaranteed deal
Texans TE Jonnu Smith signed a 4yr/50m/31m guaranteed deal
Re-signed ST Justin Bethel to 3yr/ 6m deal

perkdog

Ok I’m happy with these FA signings. We still need to do a TON of work on O.

craig44

^^^^ I know, right. I about had to pick myself up off the floor. everyone knows BB doesn't spend big money on Fa.

I guess all it took was Tommy changing teams and winning a SB the first year to get old bill a little frisky for some FAs

a real live TE. I am pretty excited.

craig44

they also just signed Nelson Agholor.

they are actually getting some weapons.

now, if they only had someone to throw them the ball...

erikthredd

@craig44 said:
they also just signed Nelson Agholor.

they are actually getting some weapons.

now, if they only had someone to throw them the ball...

His stat line from this past season,48/896/8, was pretty good. I don’t know what their cap space number is now currently at but I read a report this morning that NE started the day with the most cap space available in the NFL.

I did also see that Lawrence Guy,Adam Butler & Jason McCourty are all likely to not re-sign. The team was also talking with Joe Thuney about returning but he might be expensive as one of the better OG on the market.

Hopefully BB keeps adding to the team in free agency but also still drafts a QB somewhat in the early rounds even though they signed Cam.

erikthredd

From what I read about the Judon signing he seems to be a great addition to their defense,I just hope this isn’t Adalius Thomas part 2.

perkdog

I’m not a big Agholor fan but honestly I didn’t realize he had almost 900 yards receiving last year, I feel he is a boom or bust guy who doesn’t bring it every game, sorta the type of player that has a bog game then disappears the next few games. IDk at least they are trying

erikthredd

@perkdog said:
I’m not a big Agholor fan but honestly I didn’t realize he had almost 900 yards receiving last year, I feel he is a boom or bust guy who doesn’t bring it every game, sorta the type of player that has a bog game then disappears the next few games. IDk at least they are trying

18.7 yards per reception is pretty good and at least we know Cam can throw a deep ball better than his midlevel stuff.

Some more signings:
DE Henry Anderson 2yr/7m
Wr Kendrick Bourne 3yr/22m
DT Card Davis unknow
Re-signed Deatrich Wise unknown
Aghalor was 2yr/22m

craig44

Agholor does have good speed so in theory he should be able to get separation. also a very good receiving TE finally. maybe with these additions, Harry can be the 3rd option and maybe they will get a little production out of him.

craig44

this is all happening so fast my head is spinning

erikthredd

The Chiefs signed G Joe Thuney to a 5yr/80m/32m guaranteed deal. That’s a good pickup for them.

After his signing it’s really just Rex Burkhead, James White, David Andrews, Damiere Byrd then Guy,Butler & JMccourty as free agents.

I fully expect Brady to be calling White down to Tampa soon.

perkdog

I like the Signings so far, save Agholor. Not a fan of him but good to see them spending money where they should. Now we just need a QB and another WR

craig44

I am very happy so far. talking heads on the radio this AM said they are far from done, for whatever that is worth.

our WR corps have been so poor for the last few years that I am even excited for Agholor. He cant be worse than Harry right?

erikthredd

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/crazy_stat_puts_patriots_free_agent_spending_spree_in_perspective/s1_127_34363334
Warren Sharp
@SharpFootball
Bill Belichick spending in free agency:
prior 10 years total: $359,886,620
first 3 hours of 2021: $146,000,000

craig44

holy cow, that puts things in perspective

tommyrusty7

I am not interested in the Patriots until big bad Bill is gone. I will be watching Brady win the Super Bowl again this year.

erikthredd

@jeffphowe
Nate Solder, Trent Brown and now Joe Thuney have left the Patriots to sign record-setting offensive line contracts since 2018. That's an incredible run.

bronco2078

@erikthredd said:
@jeffphowe
Nate Solder, Trent Brown and now Joe Thuney have left the Patriots to sign record-setting offensive line contracts since 2018. That's an incredible run.

nevermind brown he was a failure

craig44

i liked thuney, but i am glad they let him go for that money. he is now this highest paid guard in the league. I don't think an interior lineman is worth as much as a tackle. good for him though for cashing in.

perkdog

@tommyrusty7 said:
I am not interested in the Patriots until big bad Bill is gone. I will be watching Brady win the Super Bowl again this year.

I was sorta in this mindset last season as well but really if he is going to put forth a legit effort by signing good players then I will get behind him and hope he succeeds. I definitely wanted him to fail last year since he did virtually nothing to promote the success of this team and was relying on his god complex

erikthredd

I think Bill is gearing up this offseason so NE is ready when they play Brady’s SB Bucs. He wants the chance to say I beat you with Cam Newton starting at QB

If either team gets up big I guarantee that they start running up the score.

craig44

last year was the least amount of interest in NE I have had in years. and you are right, BB was a big part of that. I have muddled through bad seasons before (1-15) but it is different if you feel like the GM is not giving it his all.

I certainly did watch every game, and will do so again this year.

it will be very strange when BB and Tommy go against each other this season. I am hoping for a Patriots victory where tom throws for 500 yards and 6 TDs. then I can be happy all the way around!!!

perkdog

@craig44 said:
last year was the least amount of interest in NE I have had in years. and you are right, BB was a big part of that. I have muddled through bad seasons before (1-15) but it is different if you feel like the GM is not giving it his all.

I certainly did watch every game, and will do so again this year.

it will be very strange when BB and Tommy go against each other this season. I am hoping for a Patriots victory where tom throws for 500 yards and 6 TDs. then I can be happy all the way around!!!

Right there with ya bro

thisistheshow

@erikthredd said:
I think Bill is gearing up this offseason so NE is ready when they play Brady’s SB Bucs. He wants the chance to say I beat you with Cam Newton starting at QB

If either team gets up big I guarantee that they start running up the score.

This game will of course have all the story lines. But forget that. Unless injuries or other circumstances hobbles one of the teams, this will be like a mini, in-season Super Bowl.

Edit for letter

erikthredd

Center Ted Karras signs a one year deal after playing with Miami last season,likely means Dave Andrews is done in NE.

thisistheshow

I think this was a good move.

craig44

works for me. I like andrews, but you never know about blood clots. smaller cap hit as well

craig44

Kyle Van Noy back with the Pats. didn't see the terms of the deal

man I am feeling good about this team

except for one position.

perkdog

@craig44 said:
Kyle Van Noy back with the Pats. didn't see the terms of the deal

man I am feeling good about this team

except for one position.

Nice!

thisistheshow

Belichick is all in, apparently.

erikthredd

@craig44 said:
Kyle Van Noy back with the Pats. didn't see the terms of the deal

man I am feeling good about this team

except for one position.

This is a great move!

erikthredd

Has anyone heard anything new on James White or Rex Burkhead? I did read that TB was interested in White but not much else. I’d like to see both return but just one at the very least to have someone that catch the ball out of the backfield.

thisistheshow

What do you think will happen with JC Jackson?

erikthredd

He got tendered with a 2nd round pick so they at least get some value for him if he signs elsewhere.

Also just saw that Patrick Chung retired.